🌱 Shared by a fellow allotment holder
A fellow allotment holder kindly shared this excellent hand-drawn diagram explaining the two different growth habits of potatoes.
It shows the difference between determinate (mostly early varieties) and indeterminate (main crop varieties) and how they are typically grown in the soil.
With potato planting season approaching, this seemed far too useful not to share with everyone.
Determinate potatoes
• Usually first or second early varieties
• Grow tubers in a single layer
• Ready in around 65–70 days
• Often grown with mulch rather than repeated earthing-up
Examples include:
Anya, Estima, Kestrel, Marfona, Premiere, Pentland Javelin, Vivaldi, Wilja
Indeterminate potatoes
• Usually main crop varieties
• Continue producing tubers up the buried stem
• Benefit from earthing up as the plant grows
• Take around 100+ days
Examples include:
Cara, Desiree, King Edwards, Maris Piper, Nicola, Orla, Pentland Squire, Picasso, Rooster, Valor
Have a tip to share?
If you have useful growing tips, photos from your plot, or favourite recipes using allotment produce, feel free to send them in and I’ll happily share them here.